#opiod-crisis

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Public health
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

As fentanyl crisis evolves, experts say US is still behind the eight ball'

The Trump administration's policies and health program cuts jeopardize progress against fentanyl overdoses in the U.S.
New York City
fromNew York Post
12 hours ago

Man, 51, busted for fare evasion dies of apparent drug withdrawal while in police custody at NYC hospital

A 51-year-old man died in police custody from apparent drug withdrawal after being arrested for fare evasion and drug possession.
San Francisco
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 days ago

SF County fatal drug overdose ranks 2nd highest in the country, CDC data shows

San Francisco faces a severe drug overdose crisis, but recent efforts show a decline in total overdoses and a shift towards effective programs.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
17 hours ago

What the New Executive Order Means for Psychedelics

An executive order accelerates research on psychedelic treatments but does not equate to FDA approval or immediate availability.
Healthcare
fromMedCity News
5 days ago

New Bill Seeks to Lower Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs - MedCity News

The Every Dollar Counts Act aims to apply out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs toward patients' deductibles, regardless of purchase method.
#synthetic-opioids
fromwww.npr.org
6 days ago
US news

Historic decline in U.S. overdose deaths threatened by changing street drug supply

The emergence of cychlorphine in South Carolina highlights the evolving and dangerous nature of the U.S. street drug supply.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago
UK news

Synthetic opioid linked to 1,000 deaths across the UK in just two-and-a-half years

Synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, represent the most significant drug threat in the UK, linked to 1,000 deaths in two-and-a-half years since June 2023.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Synthetic opioid linked to 1,000 deaths across the UK in just two-and-a-half years

Synthetic opioids, particularly nitazenes, represent the most significant drug threat in the UK, linked to 1,000 deaths in two-and-a-half years since June 2023.
Poker
fromFast Company
3 days ago

America's gambling rehab crisis

Zach, 26, bets on an unknown women's tennis match while reflecting on his impulsive behavior and recent life changes.
#fentanyl
fromSFGATE
4 days ago
SF parents

SF couple charged with murder after 'reckless' fentanyl exposure killed toddler

SF parents
fromSFGATE
4 days ago

SF couple charged with murder after 'reckless' fentanyl exposure killed toddler

A couple faces second-degree murder charges in the fentanyl overdose death of their 2-year-old child in San Francisco.
NYC parents
fromABC7 San Francisco
4 days ago

Parents of SF 2-year-old who overdosed on fentanyl charged with murder, DA says

Murder charges were filed against the parents of a toddler who died from a fentanyl overdose, marking a first in such cases in San Francisco.
SF parents
fromsfist.com
4 days ago

SF DA Charges Couple With Murder Over Toddler's Fentanyl Overdose Death

Murder charges have been added against a couple in connection with their daughter's fentanyl overdose death, marking a first for such a case in San Francisco.
fromPortland Mercury
3 days ago

Women's Treatment Center Announces Permanent Closure After Abruptly Halting Services - Portland Mercury

The closure saw 47 patients discharged in rapid fashion, some of which didn't have a stable place to transition to and relapsed immediately afterward.
Portland
fromBoston.com
6 days ago

Wu administration doubles down on diversion programs for drug users ahead of summer

The warm weather initiative began on March 30, according to a memo the Wu administration's Coordinated Response Team sent to the City Council on Monday. The CRT is an interdepartmental group that works to eliminate outdoor substance use and connect people suffering from addiction with treatment and recovery options.
Boston
Public health
fromsfist.com
3 days ago

SF Now Second Only to Baltimore In Overdose Deaths

Baltimore and San Francisco have the highest overdose death rates among major U.S. cities, with Baltimore at 108.6 and San Francisco at 70.5 per 100,000.
#opioid-crisis
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 week ago

Drug checking service issues warning after surge of suspected overdoses in Toronto | CBC News

Toronto's drug checking service warns of a surge in opioid overdoses and related deaths, highlighting contamination in the unregulated opioid supply.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

Police warn of unidentified narcotic' causing overdoses | CBC News

Toronto police warn of an unidentified narcotic causing multiple overdoses near Allan Gardens and Moss Park, with concerns of wider distribution.
fromQNS
2 months ago
Public health

Wyckoff Heights Medical Center institutes program to prevent overdose deaths with help from DOHMH - QNS

Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 week ago

Drug checking service issues warning after surge of suspected overdoses in Toronto | CBC News

Toronto's drug checking service warns of a surge in opioid overdoses and related deaths, highlighting contamination in the unregulated opioid supply.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

Police warn of unidentified narcotic' causing overdoses | CBC News

Toronto police warn of an unidentified narcotic causing multiple overdoses near Allan Gardens and Moss Park, with concerns of wider distribution.
fromQNS
2 months ago
Public health

Wyckoff Heights Medical Center institutes program to prevent overdose deaths with help from DOHMH - QNS

fromLos Angeles Times
1 week ago

'Ketamine queen' faces prison for selling drug that killed Matthew Perry

Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
SOMA, SF
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

I was peeing blood constantly': my ketamine hell and what made me stop

The reason people use drugs of any kind is because they want to escape, Delaney says. I had suicidal ideations from a very, very young age because I assumed that, if I was dead, maybe my mum and dad wouldn't be arguing.
Mental health
#psychedelic-drugs
Medicine
fromFortune
2 days ago

Trump speeds review of psychedelics after Joe Rogan texted him about ibogaine. 'Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it' | Fortune

Trump directs administration to expedite reviews of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine for medical use despite safety risks.
Medicine
fromABC7 Los Angeles
2 days ago

Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including the controversial drug ibogaine

Trump directs administration to expedite reviews of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine for medical use despite safety risks.
Medicine
fromFortune
2 days ago

Trump speeds review of psychedelics after Joe Rogan texted him about ibogaine. 'Sounds great. Do you want FDA approval? Let's do it' | Fortune

Trump directs administration to expedite reviews of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine for medical use despite safety risks.
Medicine
fromABC7 Los Angeles
2 days ago

Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including the controversial drug ibogaine

Trump directs administration to expedite reviews of psychedelic drugs like ibogaine for medical use despite safety risks.
Boston
fromBoston.com
1 week ago

State commits $4M to address substance use crisis at Mass. and Cass

$4 million will support housing and treatment programs in Boston's opioid crisis area, focusing on recovery and diversion from incarceration.
#kratom
Public health
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

1,200% jump in kratom-related calls to poison control centers in last decade, analysis shows

Kratom-related poison control calls surged over 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, raising public health concerns about its synthetic forms.
Alternative medicine
fromScary Mommy
3 weeks ago

Calls About Kratom To Poison Control Have Spiked 1,200% In The Past Decade

Kratom exposure reports have increased by 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, raising concerns about its addictive nature and health risks.
Public health
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

1,200% jump in kratom-related calls to poison control centers in last decade, analysis shows

Kratom-related poison control calls surged over 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, raising public health concerns about its synthetic forms.
Alternative medicine
fromScary Mommy
3 weeks ago

Calls About Kratom To Poison Control Have Spiked 1,200% In The Past Decade

Kratom exposure reports have increased by 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, raising concerns about its addictive nature and health risks.
Public health
fromwww.cbc.ca
3 days ago

Inside a HART Hub: Is the replacement to drug injection sites working? | CBC News

Recent changes to drug services in Regent Park have led to increased overdoses and client abandonment, as supervised consumption sites have been closed.
Public health
fromCity Limits
1 week ago

Opinion: Excise Taxes Can Help Fund Needed Addiction Treatment in NY

New York's alcohol sales generate $12 billion annually but do not address related health issues.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
3 weeks ago

'We're not going to reverse': Ontario premier, health minister defend supervised consumption site closures | CBC News

Ontario will not reverse the decision to close supervised drug consumption sites despite concerns from former mayors and advocates.
fromwww.amny.com
4 weeks ago

Manhattan man convicted of causing fentanyl-related death of toddler son: DA Bragg | amNewYork

Rosa was found guilty of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree aggravated harassment for allowing his son to ingest lethal doses of drugs.
NYC parents
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

California's new war on drugs': thousands arrested, few get treatment, data shows

Proposition 36, a state ballot measure, enacted harsher penalties for minor theft and drug offenses, with proponents pledging the crackdown would lead to mass treatment to keep people alive, out of jail, and off our streets. Case records, however, suggest the state is largely failing to meet the central goal of getting people help and instead conducting mass arrests and incarcerating more people with addiction.
California
Medicine
fromTruthout
2 weeks ago

Our Prison-Like Clinic System Is Thwarting Effective Opioid Addiction Treatment

Methadone is essential for opioid addiction treatment, yet its distribution is heavily regulated by law enforcement, complicating access for those in need.
Boston food
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

2 men arrested after fatal overdose on Cape Cod prompts monthslong, multi-town investigation

Two men arrested for cocaine trafficking following investigation into November 2025 fatal overdose in Massachusetts.
Public health
fromwww.nytimes.com
2 weeks ago

Video: Uncovering the World's Newest and Deadliest Drugs

Synthetic drugs, particularly novel psychoactive substances, are driving the surge in overdose deaths in the United States.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

Ontario to end funding for 7 supervised drug consumption sites, province confirms | CBC News

Ontario is defunding seven supervised drug consumption sites over 90 days, replacing them with abstinence-based HART hubs focused on treatment and recovery.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

Ontario to end funding to multiple drug consumption sites, including 2 in Toronto, forcing them to close | CBC News

Ontario is ending funding for at least seven drug consumption sites across the province, including two in Toronto, with a 90-day notice period ending June 13, 2026.
Public health
fromwww.cbc.ca
1 month ago

There will be people who die': Advocates speak out as Niagara's only safe drug consumption site faces closure | CBC News

Ontario's closure of the Niagara Region's only safe drug consumption site will likely increase overdose deaths, blood-borne infections, and public substance use in the community.
Toronto
fromwww.cbc.ca
2 months ago

Animal tranquilizer being mixed with fentanyl in Toronto's illicit drug supply, experts warn | CBC News

Medetomidine (a veterinary sedative) is increasingly present in Toronto's fentanyl supply, worsening overdose risk and limiting naloxone effectiveness.
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Doctor who battled opioid addiction spared criminal record for stealing and forging prescriptions

A medical doctor, who attributed his opioid addiction to work stress and admitted stealing and using forged prescriptions, has walked free from court.
Miscellaneous
California
fromSFGATE
1 month ago

Newsom blames kratom for 27 deaths as California seizes millions in products

California's government seized over 3,300 kratom and 7-OH products worth $5 million, declaring them illegal due to links with addiction, overdose, and 242 deaths between 2020 and 2022.
Public health
fromThe Walrus
1 month ago

Cocaine Is Atlantic Canada's Silent Killer | The Walrus

Cocaine-related deaths are surging in Atlantic Canada, driven by increased drug potency and mental health complications, with poverty and housing shortages exacerbating the crisis.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Opioid Overdose Damages Oxygen-Sensitive Brain Cells

Opioid overdoses cause brain hypoxia that reduces hippocampal volume and cognitive function, creating persistent brain injury that demands greater evaluation and treatment.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Drug-Induced Nodding-Not a Nice Nap

Recurrent opioid "nodding" reflects hypoxia that can produce anoxic brain injury and cumulative cognitive damage even when overdoses are non-fatal.
#nitazenes
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Fibromyalgia, Pain, and Substance Use Disorders

Fibromyalgia's abnormal pain processing and shared brain pathways with addiction create vulnerability to substance use disorders, with approximately 40% of chronic pain patients meeting SUD criteria.
Public health
fromBoston.com
2 months ago

Somerville city officials issue drug warning after 5 reported overdoses, 3 of them fatal

Somerville police warn of a potentially dangerous 'bad batch' of drugs after multiple overdoses and provide resources including fentanyl test strips and Narcan.
fromThe Atlantic
2 months ago

The Real Reason for the Drop in Fentanyl Overdoses

From 2003 to 2022, annual overdose deaths in the United States rose from less than 26,000 to nearly 108,000-becoming the leading nonmedical cause of death, surpassing car accidents and gun violence combined. In Canada, overdose deaths increased almost tenfold in the same period. In both countries, the surge in deaths was supercharged by "synthetic" opioids such as fentanyl, the ultra-potent, lab-made narcotic that has come to dominate the supply of hard drugs.
Public health
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

Op-Ed | How we're fighting a leading cause of death for New Yorkers | amNewYork

By creating one of the nation's first state health departments, lawmakers and elected officials in 1901 were taking a leadership role in public health that continues to this day. Take the issue of heart health: Just last month, Governor Hochul unveiled a budget proposal that makes major investments in our fight against cardiovascular disease. Healthy hearts start with healthy diets, which is why Governor Hochul included over $100 million for nutrition programs, food banks and food pantries in the Executive Budget.
Public health
fromHoodline
2 months ago

NYC Health Department's Relay Program Expands to Brooklyn, Showing Promising Decline in Overdose Deaths

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced the expansion of its peer-led overdose prevention program, Relay, to a 16th location at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. Data indicate a declining trend in overdose deaths, with 441 confirmed cases reported in the early months of 2025-the lowest since 2020. This follows a decrease from 3,056 deaths in 2023 to 2,192 in 2024, according to the City of New York.
Public health
Public health
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

Veterans can easily buy naloxone at CVS but not at the VA. A bipartisan bill wants to change that.

A bipartisan bill would provide free, prescription-free naloxone to veterans and caregivers at VA facilities to reduce overdose deaths.
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